Queen of the Prairies Connie Kaldor at the Empress April 3-4

A leading contemporary folk artist is packing her bags and heading west, toting some of the most powerful prairie music west of the Canadian Shield.

Connie Kaldor, a three-time JUNO Award winner and an Order of Canada recipient in 2007 for her contribution to Canadian culture performs at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod on April 3 and April 4 at 7:30 p.m. Kaldor is the fifth performer of the 2013/2014 Centre Stage Series.Kaldor, born in Regina, Sask. during a May blizzard that tailed a heat wave is said to be prairie to the bone. She is often referred to as the Queen of the Prairies, a performer without borders. She sings about life’s most unexpected, with twists and turns and a good dose of humour. She keeps her audience on their toes and with a smile on their faces. An acoustic folk singer/songwriter, she has released 14 albums over two decades. Though classified as a folk performer, her music blends the borders between gospel, rock, country and western, folk, bluegrass, and adult contemporary. Kaldor’s latest album Postcards from the Road released in 2009 features songs as diverse as Canada’s landscape. Like a collection of postcards, the album includes songs about the Canadian prairies, mining towns, mountains, cowboys, victory and loses with a sprinkle of romance along the way.Kaldor developed her vocal range singing in the local Lutheran Church choir her father directed. Her mother swore Kaldor sang from her cradle.As a young adult, Kaldor followed her love of performing arts with a theatrical degree from the University of Alberta in 1976. Following graduation she worked for the Mummers theatre company in Newfoundland and Theatre Passe Muraille in Toronto.She left the theatre life in 1979 in search of a full-time musical career. In 1981, Kaldor developed her own independent record label now called Coyote Entertainment. In 1983 she joined Fleming Artists, a major independent acoustic music agency and found herself headlining folk festivals across Canada, sharing the stage with some of Canada’s top folk talent including Stan Rogers, Valdy and Roy Forbes.Her immense talent has provided her with extensive tour dates throughout India, China, Europe and all over North America. She has also shared the stage with many top folk artists including Tracy Chapman, Sylvia Tyson, the Chieftains and Shawn Colvin. Kaldor co-wrote and performed the theme song for the Lynn Johnston animated television show For Better or For Worse which debuted in 2000 on Teletoon network.She is also a recipient of a 2002 Queen’s Golden Jubilee medal for her outstanding contribution to arts in Canada. Kaldor’s song Wood River from her 1992 album of the same name is considered to be her best known song and by many to be Saskatchewan’s quintessential tune. The song was also named one of the best songs about Canada by Canadian Geographic Magazine. In 2003, Kaldor hosted Kaldor @ Wood River Hall — a 13-part series recorded at the Canada Saskatchewan Sound Stage. She hosted the extraordinary talents of some of Canada’s finest roots and folk performers including Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, Bruce Cockburn, James Keelaghan, the Wailin’ Jennies and more.Kaldor credits her longevity in the Canadian folk scene to endless touring. Her large discography and contribution to the Canadian arts scene has assured her an ever growing fan base with every show and songs that will stand the test of time.The Empress Theatre looks forward to hosting two great performances by this artist in April 2014.